The Anthracite Railroads Historical Society [ARHS] is a 50 year old, tax exempt, educational corporation dedicated to the preservation of the history and legacy of railroads that served the anthracite coal mining region of Pennsylvania. Our webpage [ https://www.anthraciterailroads.org/ ] has additional details on ARHS.

This campaign is for the funding of the restoration of ARHS’s F3B unit, number DLW664B, built in November 1950 as B&M 4268, order #6150, serial #12383.

The Anthracite Railroads Historical Society recognized 40 years ago the significance of having a F3B unit as a mate to our FA3 cab unit. This is the way EMD marketed them and was the way they most often operated on most railroads. An attached photo illustrates our classic A-B-A set of F3 units.

Our F3B was rescued from a scrap lone in 1988. Over the years ARHS has executed extensive work on the F3B, including replacement of the engine, the control cabinet, glass, and replacing the wiring and the auxiliary generator. In 2014 the F3B along with our two F3A’s traveled to the great Streamliner unit event at Spencer, NC, where it was the only A-B-A set there. However, only the F3A units were operational.

Last year the F3b was started and ran under its own power for the first time since 1975. An additional attached photo shows the running F3B unit, a.k.a., its emitting smoke. But this joyous event was damped by discovering that the main generator was grounded and required servicing. Further evaluation found the main generator requires a complete rebuild.

ARHS has an ongoing project to complete the work started In 1988 and restore our 75 year old diesel to full operation. This requires the rebuilding the main generator. We have received (and most graciously acknowledge) a grant from the John H. Emery Foundation for a portion of the cost; however, we need additional funding for the rebuild. Additionally, the batteries need replacement.

We are initiating this fund raising activity for this historically significant locomotive to affect its operational restoration. Our F3B units is one of only a few that currently exist.